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Ūsiņš ([uːs̪iɲʃ]) is adeity inLatvian mythology, the god of light and spring, symbol of fertility, guardian of horses and bees.[1]
It is one of few Latvian deities whose historical sources can be derived to be more or less genuine testimony.[2] With Ūsiņš Day begins summer:[3] as they bestow fields with green grass and trees with green leaves. Therefore on Ūsiņi men would drive horses topieguļa for the first time. Ūsiņi coincidences withJurģi on 23 April (in Gregorian calendar Ūsiņi falls on 9 May[3]), which is the Christian Church's deposit. Ūsiņš has its own ornamental sign, which is similar to two letter E facing their backs against each other.[4] This sign is the most common ornament for gloves. There is a belief, that such gloves grant the wearer with good luck on the road, and such gloves are called atslēgaiņi.[5]
The most important symbol of Ūsiņš Day is a foal, which can be interpreted differently. It is both the power ofDievas, human energy, and a phallic symbol because sexual power is equal to the creative energy. Yellow foal symbolizes energy from the Sun. With Ūsiņš it is also linked to someone else's image – the goldengrass snake, which in turn, a snake is a symbol of energy flow.[6]
The word "ūsiņš" offers several explanations.Gotthard Friedrich Stender linked that name withūzām – 'trousers', which are of a yellow color. Stender also called Ūsiņš a bee god. However, there is conflicting data on Ūsiņš being a bee god. 19th centuryfolklore materials called Ūziņš a bee god, while a horse god – Ūsiņš.[2]
In late 19th century R. Auniņš called Ūsiņš the god of light, by explaining with the sound "us", which can also be found in the wordaust ('day'). Also, in his study on Latvian deity Ūsiņš,Haralds Biezais[7] concluded that Ūsiņš typologically belongs to the realm of heavenly deities, and the specific features allowed him to be considered as the god of light. Similarly,Jonas Balys [lt] was inclined to compare his name with deitiesAuseklis and Austra, derived from stemaust-.[8] If this interpretation is correct, he is therefore anastral deity connected to the morning and the evening star.[9]
On the other hand,Jānis Endzelīns felt that the wordūsiņš has no Latvian origin, but was borrowed from the Germanic wordhusing ('home spirit'). After some time, Endzelīns reflected on and considered that the wordūsiņš derives from a Russian wordусень orовсень and that the same deity was borrowed fromRussian people. Lastly,Vladimir Toporov, in his studies concluded that Ūsiņš was an ancient and mythical deity of several nations.[2]
Folk songs expressed a visible merging process of Ūsiņš and Jurģi (Saint George).[9] According to older writings, Jurģi Day (April 23) was also known as Ūsiņš Day, which were mainly related to the beginning of the spring work, resuming to shepherd livestock and pieguļa.
Ūsiņš also shows similarities with the Indian deitiesAshvini and is therefore also comparable withGreekDioskouri or "Sons ofZeus", who like Ūsiņš transport the Sun. A further parallel is that Ūsiņš is also known asSon ofDievs, and both Asvins are described asDivo napata ("Sons ofDyaus").[3][10]
Farmers fully entrust their horses to Ūsiņš, handing them over under his guardianship. Folk songs mention, that Ūsiņš himself belongs to horses, moreover, they are very well cared for. Since Ūsiņš is the god of light, it was horses that transported thesun.[5] An important place in descriptions of traditions is paid to a sacrifice. A black cock with nine crests and red legs is sacrificed to Ūsiņš. Rooster's blood was drained in horse's manger directly onoats. There was a belief, that blood, which is given to Ūsiņš, blessed the beast's home. Later during pieguļa the rooster is cooked and eaten by pieguļnieki. During pieguļa eggs are boiled and cooked into a special Ūsiņi dish –pantāga. Ūsiņš Day was held on horse market day when they were bought and sold.[5] Ūsiņš Day was met with a rumble and great noisiness, which ties in with spring thunder nature.[6]
Ūsiņš of Horses, | Ūsiņš stands by a fence, | Ūsiņam slaughtered roosters | To the hill Ūsiņš rode | Ūsiņš rode a good horse, | Ūsiņš rode to pieguļâ | Ūsiņš rode to pieguļâ, |
